This Thursday is a big day for credit unions.

Gov. Bill Haslam recently proclaimed Oct. 20 as Credit Union Day in Tennessee, and that date is also International Credit Union Day.

For Middle Tennessee’s largest credit union, this year’s observance of the credit union difference is particularly meaningful.

“We’re celebrating 65 years providing a secure and trustworthy financial alternative for Middle Tennesseans,” Ascend Federal Credit Union President and CEO Caren Gabriel said.

Gabriel said when the credit union opened its doors in 1951, its only products were consumer loans and a savings account. Members could not write a check, and ATMs had not been invented.

“Today, you can deposit a check using our app. You have surcharge-free access to more than 50,000 ATMs worldwide. You can walk into a financial center in Nashville and interact face-to-face with a teller located in Tullahoma. Ascend is evolving to meet the changing needs of our members.”

Ascend is expanding its 65^th anniversary celebration across the last three months of 2016. This month, members have a chance to win round-trip airfare for two to a concert of their choice in the continental U.S. In November, members are invited to share their favorite Ascend memory on the credit union’s social media channels for a chance to win $100. And in December, for every transaction made using its online payment tool called E-PAY, Ascend will donate $0.65 to a charity that keeps its dollars in Middle Tennessee and benefits people locally. The charity will be revealed in December.

“Ascend’s 65 years of success would not be possible without our members,” Gabriel said. “Thank you for your continued support.”

The National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU) selected Ascend as the 2015 Federal Credit Union of the Year, and the Nashville Business Journalconsistently ranks Ascend as the top credit union in Middle Tennessee. Ascend is federally insured by the NCUA. Membership is limited.

October 19, 2016